Great Art college for 14 year old in the UK

[GreenYellowTurtle]

Hi, we are looking to relocate back to the Uk after 12 years away, and I am looking for good schools for my children, who are ages 12 and 14. My son is a talented manga artist, so ideally I would like to find a school or college that can support that. Does anyone know of any good art colleges? Or more creative secondary schools? We can actually live anywhere (although our budget is tight). Thanks

Thanks for this, it's good to get an insight from an art teacher. I am looking at Art & Design BTEC for him, so then he would only have to do GCSEs and start specialising. In fact he can also do NVQ in Art & Design too, starting from age 14 so he could miss out GCSEs all together. I am still thinking about this as but I found a good NVQ program at Bristol which eventually leads on to Bristol art college - so its possible. Thanks

He is 14 and no matter how talented and fixed on a career as a Manga artist he is he will need a back up so he needs to do Art as 1 of his GCSE's.
Also Art GCSE is not completely free choice, there is a curriculum that he will need to follow.
My advice would be to find somewhere to live that ticks your boxes, look for a school that has spaces (often a challenge) with good GCSE art provision and then post GCSE look for a 16+ course that focuses on what he wants to do, or even do A levels and look after that.
He is unlikely to be able to just do art at only 14, he needs a more rounded education

He can't miss out on GCSEs unfortunately. He needs to get the minimum at least (which is usually 5 including English and Maths).
It would be hard for a college to accept him without having the GCSEs first.

His future employability will require the basic gcse passes. Bear in mind no matter how talented he is, and he needs a proper portfolio to demonstrate this, he will be competing with those who have academic qualifications and skills.

As PP have said, he absolutely needs GCSEs to progress anywhere in the UK education system! I assume he would be going into Year 10?

Or the Scottish GCSE equivalent if you decided to live there.

Are you sure about that? perhaps you could provide a link.

As a minimum schools and colleges up until the age of 18 cannot get funding unless a student is taking or has already passed maths & English GCSE's. That is why if a student fails their maths or English GCSE and then goes to college they HAVE to study for a resit. It is also the law for state schools in the UK to follow the Key stage 4 curriculum which includes compulsory maths, English and at least double science. We cannot even take on a 16 year old plumbing apprentice at work without Maths & English GCSE's unless we send them to college to do their resit.

My daughter went to specialist vocational school from the age of 11 for ballet/dance. All students still had to study at least 8 GCSE's (most did 9) and they did their vocational specialism on top of that.

Level 1 and 2 nvq courses still have a requirement to take English and Maths gcses(or level 2 Functional skills) alongside and to progress to level 3.

I found the link. https://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/under-16s/

It is designed for those in elective home education or Alternative Provision but it makes clear that the core GCSE subjects are the responsibility of the student's alternative education provider.

Without the GCSE's the student will only be able to progress onto the Level 1 or Level 2 art courses aged 16 which are at a very low level. They will have to continue studying maths & English until they pass.

I'm not being awkward pointing all this out. I have an autistic son who was to music what your son is to art. Extremely advanced in one particular area of music, obsessed with it and not wanting to do anything else.

We managed to get him through the minimum GCSE's in order for him to do a Level 3 Music Btec and he is now in his 2nd year of conservatoire. (and already working professionally on national and regional theatre productions alongside).

Thank you for your message. Yes, we are already homeschooling so we can facilitate him carrying on if required. He is doing maths, English and science. I'm happy to hear that your son managed to follow his dream. I think it's worth remembering that 80% of current jobs will soon no longer exist, so we are not preparing our children for jobs anymore, we are preparing them for a happy and meaningful life. All we can do is help them to follow their passions because I believe that these passions will lead them to where they need to end up. They will probably be creating these new jobs for themselves. Luckily music and art and design aka creativity will always be a large part of this.

m. I think it's worth remembering that 80% of current jobs will soon no longer exist,

Your 14 year old will be looking for work in 6 years. You think 80% of current jobs will no longer exist in 6 years time?

why has he only been studying english maths and science? that is a very restricted education and he will struggle joining year 10 in this country

Hello greenyellowturtle - I home edded my own kids from ages 5-16. I have to agree with another who has said that if your kids are only studying maths english and science they will struggle to join a secondary school at ages 12 and 14. Particularly having not grown up here. It will be such a huge culture shock as well.

Almost all secondary schools will have an art department that will suit for those ages so I wouldnt focus on that (goodness knows why people on this thread are suggesting places that are great for performing arts!)
80% of current jobs will no longer exist in x years time............ pmsl dont be ridiculous. And if that is true do you seriously imagine there will be work for talented manga artists?

I have a DS who is into Manga and I think AI created Manga is pretty good so if you are hoping to find an AI proof career for him that may not be it

It is true to say however that going to college and then uni without a whole bunch of GCSEs is possible. But to do that a student will need to start at level 1 at college (ie first year GCSEs - often in a class full of non motivated/badly behaved kids) and then level 2 and then 2 years of level 3. So will possibly age out of 16-19 funding pathway and will have to pay to fund their studies (if not studying subjects the govt think are useful - ie art, sport, music isnt "useful" so isnt funded in the way that eg childcare, business studies is) (To start at college on level 2 they need some GCSEs)
The student also has to take and retake Maths and English GCSEs until they pass (a funding requirement) and beyond that some unis will accept art students without GCSEs as long as they have other qualifications (eg Level 3 art and design)

OP i have just seen that your son has an array of special educational needs

i think you need to pause about making this move unless absolutely necessary

Is Steiner something you'd consider? It's not something I have experienced directly but I do know parents who have a similar outlook to you who have chosen it and been happy.

There are support groups for those who have been to Steiner schools - major red flag.

Hi @GreenYellowTurtle you have had lots of good advice from ppl who know about art in secondary schools. I would caution against an all-art curriculum from age 14, even if it were possible.

He needs GCSEs in maths, English language and literature, sciences (x 2 or 3) and I would also advise another one to give him a set of six (so that could be art). Are you now planning to HE in England? It might be an idea.

On your other thread you mention Buxton (a rather isolated town that bears the brunt of the Derbyshire winters – maybe not ideal for access to London) and Wellingborough – I don't know that at all but it is perhaps a better area for you, as in closer to London. How soon are you planning to come to the UK?

Edited to add: I agree btw that the suggestions of performing arts schools are not really ideal for someone whose artistic bent is in illustration!

No one has reccomeonded performing art schools. Schools like BOA which were talked about are creative, digital & performing arts. There is a pathway specifically for visual art & design. What it means is that a student can spend more time on that subject than usual & go beyond the usual curriculum, alongside a clutch of other GCSEs.

However it is very competitive to get in & candidates have to take part in an aptitude workshop. They can’t prepare in advance.

I thought the Brit School was performing arts? Apologies if I am wrong

Yes Brit is although there are support role strands as well as performance.

Tbf the poster who said Brit school hastily retracted the suggestion! Not trying to have a go at anyone. I think the op has to be realistic about what’s achievable - I’m sure pps agree with that.

BRIT are very similar to BOA. They offer a Visual Arts & Design pathway.

"Creative and passionate students are welcomed to the Visual Arts and Design department. You will study traditional and contemporary techniques in visual arts, sculpture, drawing and painting, and will also have the opportunity to explore a variety of specialist areas including fashion, illustration, community art, textiles, photography, digital design, graphic design, film making and fine art.

If you join us at age 14 you will learn and develop your knowledge of the basics of drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, animation, fashion, illustration and textiles.
As you develop through the course you also have the opportunity to choose a specialism. Once you finish your studies you will achieve a BTEC Tech Award in Art and Design Practice, equivalent to GCSE 9-4."